Study Questions Effectiveness of
Cholesterol Drug Vytorin
In January, many media outlets released information about an unpublished and unreviewed study that examined the effectiveness of the popular cholesterol medicine Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin) and Zocor (simvastatin only). The study found that Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin) did not work any better in preventing heart disease when compared to Zocor (simvastatin alone), which is an older medication.
The study was conducted in patients with a rare, genetic cholesterol disorder (called heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia) that affects only 0.2 percent of the general population and does not apply to the typical patient receiving these medications. Results from this study are preliminary and still must be examined in future studies and reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
If you are currently taking either Vytorin or Zetia, please do not discontinue or change your medication unless directed to do so by your physician.
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